I must admit I was quite skeptical when Plaza Premium First Hong Kong showed up in my Priority Pass list of available lounges for an additional fee. It's $250 HK in order to access the lounge for 1.5 hours which is approximately $33 US for some upgraded digs, food, and drinks. I used the lounge to it's fullest because that's what I was there for.
The first thing I did was reserve a shower room which at 6am in the morning was immediately available. However, it was at the Plaza Premium lounge next door because their showers were under renovation. No big deal as I bypassed the long line of people checking into that lounge and the time I saved was well spent. After a 12 hour flight, a hot shower is definitely in order while I spent a few hours at HKG on a layover to BKK. On a subsequent layover visit, the shower was back in full order again and got a 10 minute chair massage which was quite excellent.
Next thing I did was order breakfast. Their all day menu contained a variety of Western and local dishes. If you're fancying a fine whisky, there is a full menu of spirits available for purchase. They have a full bar available if you want to order a drink. I opted for the seafood fried rice with XO sauce as it was recommended by the waiter. This had a good amount of spice to it which was the proper way to start the day. Service was excellent as I had a dedicated server in the dining area. I finished breakfast with a hot espresso and lounged in the open area until my flight was ready to board. Rumor has it the Cathay Pacific first lounge chef left and took his expertise here which would explain the fantastic food in the restaurant.
There are no boarding announcements so if you decide to stay here for a long layover, make sure you're tracking the flight on the screens or have your own alarm so you don't miss your flight. It's important to note this is gate 1 and could be a very long walk or tram ride away from the 500's. Plan accordingly!
Overall the cost of the this lounge was well worth it. There's something about Premium First that elevates the experience. Even though they limited it to 1.5 hours, it wasn't as if they were checking up on me and making sure I left on the dot. You could alternatively extend your stay by paying more. read more